Elisa Lorello wasn’t always a novelist, but she’s been a writer and teacher all her life. A self-proclaimed “manifester of ideas,” she writes novels about relationships a la Nora Ephron, but with Aaron Sorkin-like dialogue. She also teaches the craft of storytelling, writing process, and rhetoric, and she approaches each subject with enthusiasm and humor.
A Long Island native, Elisa is the youngest of seven children. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and taught rhetoric and writing at the college level for more than ten years. In 2012 she became a full-time novelist.
Elisa is the author of eight novels, including the bestselling Faking It, and one memoir. She has been featured in the Charlotte Observer and, more recently, Last Best News, and was a guest speaker at the Triangle Association of Freelancers 2012 and 2014 Write Now! conferences. In May 2016 she presented a lesson for the Women’s Fiction Writers Association spring workshop. She continues to speak and write about her publishing experience and teach the craft of writing and revision.
Elisa enjoys reading, walking, hanging out in coffee shops, Nutella, and all things Duran Duran. She plays guitar badly and occasionally bakes.
ABOUT HER BOOK
The Second First Time
ORDER TODAY!
Novelists Jonathan Moss and Sage Merriweather should be a perfect match. They share not only the same publisher but also a deep friendship full of mutual respect and encouragement. But when an ill-fated attempt at taking their relationship to the next level fails in spectacular fashion, it appears as though that once-treasured bond is doomed for good.
One year later, however, the duo gets a chance to salvage their relationship when Jonathan invites Sage on a do-over road trip from Phoenix to Tacoma—the same trip that ended before it began the year before.
Reeling from the sudden death of her estranged father, Sage finally agrees, and the two embark on a journey that will change their lives forever. As the pair moves ever closer to the truth about their feelings, both Jonathan and Sage have to decide what they really mean to each other…or risk losing it all.
NOW TO THE GOOD STUFF…HER SECRETS…
Say you have a secret stash of treats around the house. Where would it be and what would you hide?
EVERYTHING. Just kidding. My secret stash is not so secret. I keep a tin full of Ghiradelli squares and/or Dove chocolates in the pantry, and I can’t remember the last time it was empty because I simply won’t let it be. I also have a guilty pleasure for Pop Tarts, although I don’t regularly keep them in the house anymore. When I do, I put them in a seldom-used kitchen cabinet. That way I forget they’re there and don’t inhale the entire box in one sitting. It’s hard enough eating just one when they come in packages of two.
What would be the perfect food and drink pairing for your book?
Good question! The easiest pairing would be for Faking It—strawberries and champagne (as evidenced by the cover). For Why I Love Singlehood, it would be a vanilla chai latte and a chocolate chip muffin. For Pasta Wars, perhaps something like handmade linguini and a suitable wine (I don’t drink alcohol so I wouldn’t know what to choose). And I think The Second First Time would be a bunch of appetizers—the comfort food-type like potato skins and wings—and Coca-cola or Sam Adams. I’ve left some books out, but those are the ones that came to me first!
Do you collect anything?
I have a fair sized collection of Duran Duran memorabilia, including all of their albums on vinyl, all the posters and pinups I’d hung on my bedroom walls and ceiling during my teens, about thirty pins, a bunch of T-shirts, an autographed copy of John Taylor’s memoir, In the Pleasure Groove, and a copy of my memoir, Friends of Mine, about my lifelong fandom that all the band members signed as well as a signed Paper Gods CD. To name a few. 😉
What’s one word your friends would use to describe you?
Effervescent.
Tell us one secret behind the writing of your latest book:
The Second First Time was very loosely based on something that almost happened (or didn’t happen) between my husband and me before we got together. We were friends, and our romance had had a false start, including a cancelled road trip. I’d started writing the book when I thought we weren’t going to get back together (even as friends) as a way of getting over it and taking the road trip (that’s what I love about writing novels; you get to write the stories the way you want them to work out). I was only 30,000 words into the first draft when we not only found our way back to each other, but got engaged about 9 months later and married 11 months after that. The Second First Time came out about six weeks after the wedding. The events in the book, and how the relationship played out, were completely different from real life. We took a road trip across New England for our honeymoon, however. It was awesome.
ELISA’S INFO
Website: http://www.elisalorello.com/
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GIVEAWAY!!
How about a chance to win a copy of Elisa’s novel, The Second First Time?? Let’s make this as easy as possible…
Where and when was your last road trip?
Post your response below in the comments and be automatically entered to win! Contest is only open to residents of the United States and Canada.
My last roadtrip was a mother/daughter trip with my mom and me. We took a three day trip to Traverse City, Michigan. We had so much fun and did wine tastings, shopping and whatever else we wanted to do!! Girl trips are the best! 🙂
Our last road trip was a long weekend in the Black Hills. We went for a friend’s wedding but added some days at the beginning and the end for us to relax and enjoy ourselves.
My last road trip for myself and my husband was last August. We decided to go to Wildwood NJ end of August last min. We left on a Tues, slept over in Albany NY. We’re from Montreal so it’s far. Left Wed am and arrived before 5. My hubby enjoys a special place Ed’s Funcaid and I just need the ocean to walk and gaze at. I walk the boardwalk listening to music or audio books. Stayed for a week. Hopefully we’ll do this again soon
My last road trip,was from Abbotsford BC to Vernon BC to visit my mother in lay the last weekend in July. But in June I drove to Seattle, caught a plane to Oklahoma City and then drove to Olathe, Kansa, back to Oklahoma City, to Cheyenne, Oklahoma and back to Oklahoma City, all in 6 days?
My last road trip was at the beginning of June. We drove to Medicine Hat, AB to attend our eldest daughter’s college graduation in Visual Communications. The Grad class prepared an art exhibit which closed at 4 pm the day we were arriving. It’s an 11 hour drive; we split it over two days to allow enough time to get there before the show closed. About 1 hour outside of MH we blew a tire. For an hour we sat on the side of the road, struggling to get the tire off (broke one of the lug nuts in the process) and the spare out from under the van. Eventually a nice couple stopped to assist us. He had proper tools along and it didn’t take long for us to get the wrecked tire off. Only to find out that our spare tire was FLAT. This nice couple took us the nearest town (about 10 miles in the opposite direction), we bought a new tire, they took us back to our van, stayed until we got the new tire on, and then followed us the rest of the way to MH to make sure we got there. By this time the art show was over. 🙁 One of her profs offered to open the gallery that evening so we could see all the projects. The ride home was uneventful, thankfully.
From Jacksonville to West Va with my silky terrier and my 21 yr old daughter. The next morning we had my sister, father and son along with us and drove to New Jersey for a wedding. This was in 2006. My father passed in 2007, and sister passed in 2013. These days I can only stand to drive about 30 miles at a clip.
My last road trip was from New York to Ohio for our family reunion!! Fun times seeing family we only get to see once a year 🙂
Last road trip was from Kansas to California with my husband and 13 yr old granddaughter. We had a great time. My husband and I used to live there but it was a first visit for my granddaughter, Gillian.
My last road trip was last week. We drove from Kentucky to Maryland, then to Gettysburg, then to the Pocono Mountains, then topped it off at Washington DC. It was a great 10 day family vacation but I’m so glad to be back home safe and sound.
My last road trip was to Toronto to pick up my in laws from the airport.
I do not go on road trips because I am afraid of traffic. I stay home and read books.
My last road trip was in June to attend my nephews graduation from CalPoly San Luis Obispo. We drove from Sacramento and our camping site was in Pismo Beach. Great trip!
Unfortunately, my last road trip wasn’t a great one. My daughter and I drove from our hometown about an hour and a half to the teaching hospital to visit my dad who is battling pancreatic cancer. This Friday, I will take a bittersweet road trip to move my daughter to college.
CONGRATULATIONS Kim! You are the lucky winner of a copy of Elisa Lorello’s book, The Second First Time!!! Be sure to email my assistant with your mailing information (assistant@steenaholmes.com).
My last road trip would have been to visit my mother
Louisville, KY– for the Street Rod Nationals
A couple of years ago. husband and I took my t(hen 78 year old) dad to Glacier National Park. We stayed on the west side, and my husband took him fishing on Flathead Lake one of the days. He loved it so much, he is trying to talk us into moving there with him!
In June my husband and I took our daughter and her 4 kids (ages 7,6,3,1) from Michigan to Florida. Can we say looonnnggg trip!
My last road trip was to Savannah. Hot, but fun.
My last road trip was to Jacksonville Florida with my son to visit friends in 2016. We had a great time and I look forward to going again!
The Second First Time sounds like a great.read by an author that I haven’t read before!
My last road trip was over 10 years ago. I went to visit a friend who had recently moved.
Haven’t been on a long road trip in years, but go every weekend about 100 miles to visit with grandkids!
My last road trip was a pilgrimage to the place of my birth (Pipestone, Minnesota). I hadn’t been back there for eons. Sometimes you just need to revisit your roots.
My last road trip was last June when a friend and I traveled to the Precious Moments Chapel in Carthage, MO for a collectors’ event.
The last road trip I took was to Gatlinburg, TN in December right after the big fire swept through there. It was devastating to see the lots where beautiful mountain cabins once stood that we had stayed in previously. Most are being rebuilt though and it is still a lovely place to drive through!
I can’t remember! Sad, but true! I have rheumatoid arthritis, and I use a wheelchair. It takes a lot of effort to get ready. I have been to a lot of places through books!
In June we drove from mid Michigan to ft Campbell ky to spend the week at our youngest daughters house my mom came and 7 of my 8 grandkids were all there for a. Wonderful week
My last road trip was taken last summer. We went from Ohio to New Hampshire to visit relatives.
My last road trip was up and down the West Coast. It’s beautiful, and such a nice drive during the summer. Hoping to do it again one of these days. mbradeen@yahoo.com
I’m with my hubby & 3 kids on a road trip right now! From our home in Saskatchewan to my dad’s home in Ontario! Today is day two one the road. Will be in Thunder Bay tonight ?
The last road trip was to Savannah, GA to visit my daughter. We have a trip planned for October to St, George Island, FL.
It was from just North of Dallas, TX down to Galveston TX. all by myself. I loved it! I had been there before I knew what I wanted to do and did it! Thank you for a chance to win!
Our last road trip was to the Ocean for the Sun Festival and a Fiddler’s convention.
last road trip was this past Saturday to the North Carolina mountains. Went to Blowing Rock and Linville Falls NC.
last road trip was a couple of weeks ago. The next one is in one week.
#Duranie
denise
We drove to the Oregon Coast in June. It was 15 hours of driving each way but the minute I step onto the condo balcony and see a whale breach it’s totally worth every moment
In June 2015, we drove to the Black Hills of South Dakota to see Mount Rushmore! Thanks for the chance to win.
My last road trip was July. My husband and I drove to Ocean City Maryland almost 6 hours from our house.. It felt good to get away and have fun.. 🙂
My last road trip was from Las Vegas to PA in March of this year. My job had ended and then my boyfriend died and I could no longer afford my rent. His sons were nice enough to come to Las Vegas and drive my boxer and me back to PA.